Multiple lines of evidence for a hypervelocity impact origin for the Silverpit Crater

Tools

Nicholson, Uisdean and de Jonge-Anderson, Iain and Gillespie, Alex and Kenkmann, Thomas and Dunkley Jones, Tom and Collins, Gareth S. and Frankel, James and Bray, Veronica and Gulick, Sean P.S. and Parr, Ronnie (2025) Multiple lines of evidence for a hypervelocity impact origin for the Silverpit Crater. Nature Communications, 16. 8312. ISSN 2041-1723 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63985-z)

[thumbnail of Nicholson-etal-NC-2025-Multiple-lines-of-evidence-for-a-hypervelocity-impact-origin-for-the-Silverpit-Crater]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Nicholson-etal-NC-2025-Multiple-lines-of-evidence-for-a-hypervelocity-impact-origin-for-the-Silverpit-Crater.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (13MB)| Preview

Abstract

An impact origin for Silverpit Crater, on the UK continental shelf, has been contested over the last two decades, with a lack of definitive evidence – traditionally petrographic evidence of shock metamorphism – to resolve the debate. Here we present 3D seismic, petrographic and biostratigraphic data, and numerical impact simulations to test the impact hypothesis. The seismic data provide exceptional imaging of the entire structure, confirming the presence of a central uplift, annular moat, damage zone and numerous secondary craters on the contemporaneous seabed. The distribution of normal and reverse faults in the brim, and curved radial faults around the central uplift suggest a low-angle impact from the west. The pitted, flat-topped central uplift at the top chalk horizon may indicate significant devolatilization of chalk immediately following impact. Biostratigraphic data confirm that this event occurred during the middle Eocene, between 43-46 million years ago. Petrographic analysis from the reworked ejecta sequence in the nearby 43/25-1 well reveals two grains with shock lamellae, indicating shock pressures of ~10-13 GPa, consistent with results from our numerical models. This combination of data and modelling provide compelling evidence that Silverpit Crater is an exceptionally preserved hypervelocity impact structure.

ORCID iDs

Nicholson, Uisdean, de Jonge-Anderson, Iain ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9438-8194, Gillespie, Alex, Kenkmann, Thomas, Dunkley Jones, Tom, Collins, Gareth S., Frankel, James, Bray, Veronica, Gulick, Sean P.S. and Parr, Ronnie;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)